Title: The Distant Hours

Author: Kate Morton

Publisher: Atria 2010

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 562

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: TBR Reduction; 52 Books - W37

It starts with a letter, lost for half a century and unexpectedly delivered to Edie’s mother on a Sunday afternoon. The letter leads Edie to Milderhurst Castle, where the eccentric Blythe spinsters live and where, she discovers, her mother was billeted during World War II. The elder Blythe sisters are twins and have spent most of their lives caring for their younger sister, Juniper, who hasn’t been the same since her fiancé jilted her in 1941. Inside the decaying castle, Edie searches for her mother’s past but soon learns there are other secrets hidden in its walls. The truth of what happened in “the distant hours” has been waiting a long time for someone to find it. In this enthralling romantic thriller, Morton pays homage to the classics of gothic fiction, spinning a rich and intricate web of mystery, suspense, and lost love.

I loved Morton's The Forgotten Garden and was hoping to love this one also. Thankfully I did love this one. The story of the Blythe Sisters twisted and turned in all the right places. I kept second guessing my assumptions about what had happened to Juniper, Percy, and Saffy. I loved finding the truth right along with Edie. But my favorite part of the book was the atmosphere. Morton creates something special with her writing. I could almost feel myself traveling the drafty old Castle along with the characters. Although it took me almost two weeks to finish, I really enjoyed this book. I hope to read more from Morton in the future.